Best Salmon Dog Food Review Guide For 2023-2024
Best Salmon Dog Food Review Guide For 2023-2024 – Your dog loves the taste of a good sockeye as much as you do! Salmon dog food is a great choice for owners of dogs with stomach or allergy issues from traditional meats like beef and chicken.
It’s also a great food to try when you’re dealing with a picky eater, who may find that he adores that salmon taste.
Today we’re reviewing the best salmon dog food brands and discussing the benefits of a salmon diet for canines! So to find out even more keep reading our Best Salmon Dog Food Review Guide For 2023-2024.
Nutro Limited Ingredient Salmon
Features salmon and salmon meal as the first two ingredients, and the limited ingredient list makes this great for dogs with allergies.
Nutro Limited Ingredient Salmon is a limited-ingredient formula relying on salmon and salmon meal as the first two ingredients, for a salmon protein punch.
This formula has salmon as the exclusive animal protein, which means you don’t need to worry about any chicken, turkey, or even other fish proteins – a huge bonus if your dog is extra sensitive to different animal proteins.
Specs:
- Brand Nutro
- Item Form Dry
- Breed Recommendation All Breed Sizes
- Flavor Salmon
- Specific Uses for Product Skin, Coat
About this item:
- Contains one (1) 4 lb. bag of NUTRO Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Dry Dog Food Salmon & Lentils
- Always made with 10 key ingredients or less, plus natural flavors, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients
- NUTRO Limited Ingredient Diet Recipes are grain free, and avoid ingredients that commonly cause food sensitivities in pets like corn, wheat, soy and dairy protein
- Salmon is the #1 ingredient in this healthy dog food
- This NUTRO Dry Dog Food is made with Non-GMO ingredients*
- Contains no chicken and no beef
Features:
- Includes salmon + salmon meal as first two ingredients
- Salmon is the exclusive animal protein
- Legumes and pumpkins as a healthy alternative to grains
- No corn, wheat, soy, or dairy protein
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Pros:
- Nutro Max is one of the few foods on this list that relies on salmon as the only animal protein, which is preferable for dogs with allergies, as other foods tend to slip in other animal proteins as well like chicken, turkey, or beef.
Cons:
- Nutro is fairly pricey, so it may not be ideal for all budgets.
Ingredients List:
- Salmon, Salmon Meal, Dried Potatoes, Lentils, Chickpeas…
Merrick Grain Free With Salmon Dog Food
Delicious fish-based recipe. Packed with authentic meat proteins, this kibble features real salmon as the #1 ingredient and easy-to-digest grain-free carbohydrates.
Merrick Grain-Free With Salmon Dog Food is a high-quality dog food with plenty of delicious fish!
Real salmon is listed as the #1 ingredient, followed by salmon meal. This shows that Merrick’s dog food really is packed with authentic meat protein – not fillers.
In addition to salmon, other whitefish is also included in the ingredient list, making it a super seafood meal for your pup.
This salmon dog food also contains salmon oil (providing more omega 3 fatty acid) as well as chelated minerals, which aid in digestion and makes protein easier to absorb. Merrick’s food also features a small kibble size, making it easy for smaller dogs to eat.
Merrick’s food earns a 5 star rating from Dog Food Advisor, due to its high protein content of 39%.
There is some controversy surrounding Merrick, as the company was recently bought by Purina. However, owners have verified (by calling Merrick) that even despite being bought by Purina, they are still not sourcing any ingredients from China.
Specs:
- Brand Merrick
- Item Form Dry
- Breed Recommendation Large Breeds, All Breed Sizes
- Flavor Real Salmon + Sweet Potato
- Specific Uses for Product Active
About this item:
- #1 INGREDIENT: DEBONED MEAT, FISH OR POULTRY: Merrick Grain Free dog food recipes contain leading levels of high quality proteins for healthy energy levels, building muscle mass and a great taste your dog will love.
- HEALTHY SKIN AND COAT, HIPS AND JOINTS: These grain free dog food recipes contain leading levels of Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat plus leading levels of glucosamine and chondroitin to maintain your dog’s hip and joint function.
- REAL WHOLE FOODS FOR OPTIMAL NATURAL NUTRITION: Merrick Grain Free dog food recipes include real, whole foods like sweet potatoes, peas, apples, blueberries and contain zero preservatives, fillers, corn, wheat, soy or gluten
- A VARIETY FOR EVERY BREED AND NEED: Merrick Grain Free dog food offers a range of specially crafted recipes to nourish all types of dogs, offering: puppy food, senior dog food, large breed dog food, and an option for those dogs needing a little help to maintain a healthy weight.
- At Merrick, we promise your pet will not only love the taste of our natural dog food, they’ll be happier and healthier, too. That’s why if you (or your pet) are not 100%, absolutely, totally, completely satisfied with Merrick Grain Free dog food, return it for your money back. We don’t just make the best food ever. We stand behind it.
Features:
- Features deboned salmon as the #1 ingredient
- Fresh produce + easy-to-digest carbohydrates like sweet potato
- Locally sourced, cooked in the USA, no ingredients from China
- Contains Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- Contains glucosamine to promote healthy joints
- No corn, wheat, soy, or gluten.
- Available in 4 lb / 12 lb / 24 lb bags
Pros:
- Dogs love the taste, and owners report seeing an improvement in their dogs’ coats and skin!
Cons:
- Some owners are skeptical that Merrick’s quality will continue after being purchased by Purina. However, owners have reported that the high-quality standards are still in place, and Merrick is continuing it’s “no sourcing from China” policy.
Ingredients List:
- Deboned Salmon, Salmon Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes…
Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals Salmon Tunalini
A grain-free recipe made with fresh wild salmon and blended with yucca extract which may reduce the smell of your dog’s stool.
Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals Salmon Tunalini seeks to provide your pup with a true Mediterranean diet – this grain-free formula composed of wild-caught salmon, tuna, eggplant, spinach, zucchini, and olive oil!
Salmon and salmon meal are the 1st and 2nd ingredients, meaning this dog food is an authentic choice for salmon-packed protein. However, it also contains chicken liver and chicken cartilage, would could be an issue for allergies.
Fromm is considered a high-quality dog food brand, and this dog food is full of prebiotics and probiotics for better doggie digestion. It contains chicory root (for digestion), chelated minerals (for protein absorption), as well as flaxseed and salmon oil (adding more omega 3 fatty acids).
Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals earns 4.5 stars from Dog Food Advisor, with a 32% protein content.
Specs:
- Brand Fromm
- Item Form Dry
- Breed Recommendation All Breed Sizes
- Flavor Vegetable
- Specific Uses for Product Eyes, heart
About this item:
- Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals Salmon Tunalini Food For Dogs Is Formulated To Meet The Nutritional Levels Established By The Aafco Dog Food Nutrient Profiles For All Life Stages
- Relevant For Dogs Only
- Daily Feeding Recommendations
Features:
- No grains, corn, wheat, or soy
- Contains Yucca Schidigera extract, which reduces the smell of your dog’s stool
- Includes chicken cartilage for joint health, chicory root for digestion aid and reduced risk of worms, and taurine to help with developing heart and eyes.
- Made with USDA-inspected ingredients + made in the USA
- Available in 4 lb / 12 lb / 26 lb bags
Pros:
- Owners report that dogs wolf it down immediately – it’s a doggie favorite!
Cons:
- This salmon dog food contains more than just salmon – while salmon is the #1 ingredient, it also contains chicken liver and chicken cartilage, which could provide some problems for dogs with allergies.
Ingredients List:
Salmon, Salmon Meal, Peas, Potatoes, Pea Flour…
Instinct Original Grain-Free With Salmon
High-quality salmon recipe with freeze-dried raw coated kibble. Features salmon and whitefish as first two ingredients and boasts a composition of 72% real animal ingredients, so you don’t need to worry about fillers.
In Instinct Original Salmon Dog Food, the first ingredients are salmon and salmon meal, so you are definitely getting the salmon value that you pay for – no scams here!
Instinct is also one of the highest rated dog foods on Dog Food Advisor, with 5 stars. It has a protein content of 39% – a very impressive number compared to most dog foods! It also uses tapioca as a starch, which helps limit any allergy issues.
Instinct also features a fairly small kibble size, so it should be quite easy for smaller dogs to eat.
Specs:
- Brand Instinct
- Item Form Pellet, Raw, Dry
- Breed Recommendation Large Breeds, All Breed Sizes, Small Breeds
- Flavor Salmon
- Specific Uses for Product Heart
About this item:
- GRAIN FREE DOG FOOD WITH WILD CAUGHT SALMON: Instinct Original dry dog food is made with 72% real animal ingredients and nutritious oils, 28% vegetables, fruits and other wholesome ingredients. Responsibly sourced wild caught salmon is the #1 ingredient.
- NATURAL DOG FOOD: Instinct Original dry dog food is high protein dog food made with probiotics to support healthy digestion and omegas for skin & coat. Made without grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meals, artificial colors or preservatives.
- THE FIRST RAW COATED KIBBLE: Instinct Original dry dog food is high protein dog food where every piece of kibble is coated in freeze dried raw for nutrition and taste. Delicious, healthy flavor that small dogs to large dogs crave.
- POWER OF RAW INGREDIENTS: Our dog food is made with the pure, real nutrition of raw. Raw is natural, made from real meat & whole food ingredients, protein packed & minimally processed. Made in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world.
- INSTINCT, THE RAW BRAND: We craft dry & wet dog food from real ingredients. Compare Instinct to Blue Buffalo, Rachel Ray, Hills Science Diet, Purina One, Taste of the Wild, Merrick, Natural Balance, Wellness, Orijen, Royal Canin, Fromm, Acana & Nutro.
Features:
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Grain-free dog food with no corn, wheat, soy, gluten, or fillers
- All natural ingredients with added vitamins and minerals (specifically, chelated minerals, which are easier to absorb and are usually only found in quality dog foods) for softer, shinier coat. Also contains antioxidants to boost immune health.
- Contains chicory root, which provides probiotics for heathy digestion (great for dogs with sensitive stomachs)
- Freeze dried raw coating to boost nutrition and improve taste
- Zip lock pack for easy dog food storage
Pros:
- Owners are very impressed with the quality of Instinct. Many report their dogs developing more shiny, healthier coats after eating. Some even say their dogs are shedding less too! This salmon dog food also seems to do very well with dogs who have sensitive stomachs.
Cons:
- Not a cheap dog food – while great quality, it may be too pricey for some owners.
Ingredients List:
- Salmon, White Fish Meal (Pacific Whiting, Pacific Sole, Pacific Rockfish), Peas, Menhaden Fish Meal…
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free with Salmon Amazon’s Choice
Protein-rich, grain-free formula for large dogs. This formula features real salmon as #1 ingredient as well as glucosamine for improved joint health.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free With Salmon is a dog food formula designed for large breed dogs. It uses sweet potatoes, peas, and potatoes as healthy complex carbohydrates. It also includes blueberries, carrots, and cranberries for antioxidants.
This dog food also contains chicory root, which aids in digestion due to prebiotics. It also includes chelated minerals, which make protein easier to absorb for dogs.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness also contains dried yeast, which is somewhat controversial – some believe that yeast can keep away fleas and can support a dog’s immune system.
Others believe yeast can be linked to allergies (although this really is not an issue if your dog is not allergic to yeast). A small minority also claim that yeast can contribute to bloat, but there’s no evidence to support this claim.
Blue Buffalo Wildness earns a 4.5 star rating from Dog Food Advisor, with 36% protein content.
It’s important to note that this dog food does not contain only salmon as its meat protein source – it also includes chicken meal, so if your dog has allergy issues involving chicken, you may want to steer clear!
This dog food is specifically designed for large breed dogs, but there is also a standard adult version of this dog food available.
Specs:
- Brand Blue Buffalo
- Target Species Dog
- Item Form Dry
- Breed Recommendation Large Breeds, Giant Breeds
- Flavor Salmon, Grain Free
About this item:
- PACKED WITH REAL SALMON: A recipe made to satisfy your dog’s natural love for meat, this high protein dog food features real salmon to help build and maintain lean muscle mass
- HEALTHY INGREDIENTS: BLUE Wilderness large breed dog food is made with the ingredients to help support your large breed’s unique needs including glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health; It contains omega 3 & 6 fatty acids for skin and coat health
- ANTIOXIDANT-RICH LIFESOURCE BITS: A precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals carefully selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists to support immune system health, life stage needs and a healthy oxidative balance
- A NATURAL DOG FOOD: BLUE dry dog food is made with the finest natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals; BLUE contains NO chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives
- Contains one (1) 24-lb bag of BLUE Wilderness High Protein Natural Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food, Salmon
Features:
- Contains real salmon, which is listed as #1 ingredient
- No corn, wheat, soy, or gluten
- Includes Blue Buffalo’s “LifeSource Bits,” which is a blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
- Contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin to promote joint health
- Includes Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids for a shiny coat and healthy skin
Pros:
- Dogs really seem to enjoy the taste of this dog food! It earns impressive attention even from picky canines.
Cons:
- While salmon in the main ingredient, this Blue Buffalo dog food also contains other meat sources, so it’s not a good choice for dogs with chicken allergies. Also contains caramel coloring, which is less than ideal.
Ingredients List:
- Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Tapioca Starch, Peas, Pea Protein…
Best Salmon Dog Food Buying Guide For 2023-2024
Why Choose Salmon Dog Food?
Owners opt for salmon dog food due to a number of reasons, including:
- Healthy Protein Source. Salmon is an extremely high-quality protein source, which is why many owners consider it for their beloved canines! Fish boasts a great protein-to-calorie count, making it a favorite protein source for humans and four-legged creatures alike.
- Omega 3 Fatty Acid. Salmon is a natural source of Omega 3 Fatty Acid, which is said to be great for skin, coat, and joint health (which is especially handy for arthritis senior dogs).
- Brain Booster. Salmon is also said to promote healthy brain function, so it’s great for developing puppies as well as twilight dogs going a bit senile.
- Amino Acids. Fish, salmon included, has high levels of amino acids. Amino acids can help with everything from building cartilage to regulating hormones.
- High in Vitamins & Minerals. Salmon is rich in magnesium, potassium, zinc, selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12, among others.
- Low Mercury Fish. Salmon is also considered a low mercury fish, so the threat of ingesting unhealthy levels of mercury – something fanatic fish eaters often worry about – is minimized when it comes to salmon.
- Flavorful. Dogs often love the added flavor of salmon in their dog food! It may become your four-legged buddy’s new favorite meal!
If you decide to give your dog salmon solo (not within a manufactured dog food), make sure to cook the salmon all the way, as raw salmon can have parasites that are dangerous for dogs. Also make sure to remove any bones so your pup doesn’t choke!
However, we definitely don’t recommend simply feeding your furry pal fish and nothing else! While owners often are curious about taking their dog’s nutrition into their own hands, it’s important to note that dog food is created with specific formulas, designed to provide your dog with all the nutritional needs they require.
What to Consider When Buying Salmon Dog Food
Just Salmon Or Other Meat Too?
If your dog has allergy issues, you may want to select a salmon dog food that only contains salmon as a protein source.
Some of the dog foods listed here solely rely on salmon as a meat protein, while others have salmon as the primary protein, but also include other meats, like chicken.
This mix of meats is fine if you’re just looking for a quality meat protein source for your pooch. However, for allergy issues, make sure to check out ingredients and avoid any additional meat sources that won’t work well for your dog.
Grain-Free Is Good, But That’s Not All That Matters. All of the salmon dog foods we reviewed in this article are grain-free.
This wasn’t necessary on purpose – grain free dog food isn’t always the best choice for all canines, but it often can be very beneficial for dogs with allergies and can help a ton with digestion issues.
Many of the best dog food brands that offer salmon-based formulas also happen to be grain free, since they pay more careful attention to ingredients than 2nd-tier dog foods.
Remember, simply being grain-free doesn’t make a dog food great. You’ll also want to be wary of dog foods that contain lackluster protein sources – for example, while some plant protein sources are fine, you want your dog to be getting the majority of his protein from meat. Of course, you’ll also want to look for a dog food with little to no fillers.
Additional Ingredients & Bonus Benefits:
Many of the salmon dog foods listed here also include bonus ingredients like glucosamine to promote healthy joints, and chicory root or other probiotics for better digestion.
Some also contain added salmon oil for even more omega 3 fatty acids. The importance and value of these added ingredients will depend on your dog’s unique needs and situation.
Look at 1st Ingredient (& 2nd Too):
The first ingredient in your dog food should always be meat – in this case, you’ll want to see salmon or salmon meal listed as #1. The first ingredient listed is the primary ingredient, so seeing salmon listed 1st allows you to rest assured that your dog’s food really is salmon-based.
In addition to the 1st ingredient, take a look at the dog food’s 2nd and 3rd ingredients too. Usually the best, most protein-packed dog foods will list a meat protein as the 2nd ingredient as well.
You’ll see that in many of the dog foods listed here, deboned salmon may be the 1st ingredient, followed by salmon meal or some other meat.
Salmon vs. Salmon Meal:
Is One Ingredient Better Than The Other?
You may see salmon meal listed as an ingredient in these dog foods, in addition to or instead of regular salmon. It’s worth noting that meat meal contains much more protein than whole salmon, due to the way the meat is rendered.
Be aware that this is not the same as general “meat meal” – those kinds of mystery meats are to be avoided. However, seeing the ingredient “salmon meal” should not be a turn off – it’s a good thing!
Conclusion:
Overall, when looking for the best salmon dog food, choose a dog food that is high in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, has a probiotic to support digestion, and is easy on sensitive stomachs in order to prevent issues. Thanks for taking the time to read our Best Salmon Dog Food Review Guide For 2023-2024.
